Jack-in-the-box sounder

ABSTRACT

A jack-in-the-box is equipped with a bellows extending between the pop-up figure and the box so that the bellows is compressed when the figure is pushed into the box and expanded when the figure pops up. An air-operated sounder is arranged in a passageway from inside the bellows to outside the bellows for making a sound when air moves through the passageway. The passageway includes an expandible sleeve arranged for moving a feature of the pop-up figure, and a lever at the bottom of the bellows can be manually operated for compressing the bellows to operate the sounder.

United States Patent Rodgers [451 Sept. 19,1972

[54] JACK-IN-THE-BOX SOUNDER Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene [72] Inventor: James A. Rodgers, Hamburg, NY. jjf r j' g orne um s on, aw e ens [73] Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company y p p 22 Filed: March 1,1971 [571 ABSTRACT 211 App] 19 53 jack-in-the-box is equipped with a bellows extendmg between the pop-up figure and the box so that the bellows is compressed when the figure is pushed into [5%] PS. 8] ..46/118, 46/146 the box and expanded when the figure pops An aipoperated sounder i arranged in a p g y f 1 0 care 175 inside the bellows to outside the bellows for making a sound when air moves through the passageway. The [56] References cued passageway includes an expandible sleeve arranged for UNITED STATES PATENTS moving a feature of the pop-up figure, and a lever at the bottom of the bellows can be manually operated Lawson et a1 "46/146 x for compressing the bellows to operate the sounder.

Leach ..46/l46 PA'TENTEDSE 1 9 m2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

JAMES A. R DGERS I f L ATTORNEYS I I: I 11.26

FIG. I

JACK-lN-Tl-lE-BOX SOUNDER THE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT Jack-in-the boxes are ancient toys and have become fairly standard in their operation. The invention involves a realization of a way to add to the interest and pleasure derived from a jack-in-the-box toy by adding sound and motion. The invention seeks to accomplish this in a simple, reliable, safe, and entertaining manner to result in a toy that is attractive and enjoyable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention adds a bellows to a jack-in-the-box having a spring-biased figure that pops up from a box, and the bellows extend between the figure and the box to the compressed when the figure is pushed into the box and expanded when the figure pops up. An air passageway leads from inside the bellows to outside the bellows, and an air-operated sounder is arranged in the passageway for making a sound when air moves through the passageway.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away, elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive jack-in-the-box; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the upper portion of FIG. 2 showing operation of the toy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Jack-in-the-box as shown in the drawings includes a box 11 having a lid 12 and a pop-up figure l3 biased upward by a spring 14 for popping up out of box 11 when lid 12 is unlatched. A flexible sleeve 15 connects figure 13 to box 11 and limits the upward travel of figure 13. The upper portion of figure 13 includes a simulated head 16 and neck 17 fixed to flexible sleeve 15.

A bellows 20 extends from socket 21 at the bottom of box 11 up to housing 22 at the underside of the upper portion of figure 13. Bellows 20 is arranged inside coil spring 14 as illustrated, and is compressed when figure 13 is pushed into box 11 and expanded when figure 13 pops up out of box 11. The lower end of bellows 20 is preferably closed, and the upper end of bellows 20 is formed as a neck 23 secured in the bottom of housing 22. Neck 23 forms part of an air passageway leading from inside bellows 20 to outside bellows 20, and air rushes in and out of neck 23 as bellows 20 is expanded and compressed.

In addition to the compression and expansion of bellows 20 as figure 13 moves up and down, a lever 25 is mounted on pivot 26 near the bottom of box 11 and extends into socket 21 to raise plate 27 when the outer end of lever 25 is manually depressed as shown by the arrow. This action compresses bellows 20 to force air out through neck 23.

An expandible sleeve 28 in the form of a smaller bellows has one end fitted securely in neck 23 and carries an air-operated sounder 29 in its other end. As bellows 20 expands during pop-up of figure 13 air is drawn through sounder 29, sleeve 28, and neck 23, and sounder 29 preferably allows free air intake to bellows 20. As bellows 20 is compressed by pressing figure 13 down into box 11 or operating lever 25, air is expelled out through sleeve 28 and sounder 29 which preferably makes a sound in the expelled air stream.

Air exhausted from bellows 20 not only operates sounder 29 but also expands sleeve 28 to the position shown in FIG. 2. The expansion of sleeve 28 lifts pusher element 30 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2, and this raises a lever 31 mounted on a pivot 32 to lower a simu-.

lated jaw and mouth 33 of figure 13. Hence, operation of sounder 29 is accompanied by a simulated opening of the mouth of figure 13. Also, eyes 34 attached to jawpiece 33 and visible through eye openings 35 move when lever 31 is operated. Figure 13 then appears to move its eyes and open its mouth when sounder 29 actuates. This occurs either when lever 25 is depressed or when figure 13 is pushed back into box 11. The noise from sounder 29 is preferably a moaning sound so that figure 13 appears to protest being pushed back into box 1 1.

The inventive sounder mechanism can be incorporated into many types of jack-in-the-boxes, including those having music box elements and various mechanisms for unlatching lid 12. Also, spring 14 and bellows 20 can be combined in a single unit structure, and sleeve 15 can be omitted. Many different features of figure 13 can be made movable in response to expansion of sleeve 28, and many variations can be made leaving the operating functions of the inventive device.

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that other embodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and defining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or related embodiments going beyond the semantic orientation of this application but falling within the spirit of the invention. For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate the many variations and substitutions that can be made in the inventive jack-in-the-box,

and will understand how to adapt the invention to various jack-in-the-box toys.

I claim:

1. In a jack-in-the-box having a spring-biased figure arranged to pop up from a box, the improvement comprising:

a. a bellows extending between said figure and said box; b. said bellows being compressed when said figure is pushed into said box and expanded when said figure pops out of said box; c. an air passageway from inside said bellows to outside said bellows: d. said air passageway including an expandible sleeve expanded by air exhausted from said bellows; and

an air-operated sounder arranged in said passageway for making a sound when air moves through said passageway.

2. The jack-in-the-box of claim 1 wherein one end of said sleeve is connected to an opening in said bellows, and said sounder is arranged in the other end of said sleeve.

3. The jack-in-the-box of claim 1 wherein said figure has a visibly movable feature, and including means responsive to said sleeve expansion for moving said feature.

4. The jack-in-the-box of claim 1 wherein said spring is a coil spring, and said bellows is arranged inside said spring.

7. The jack-in-the-box of claim 6 wherein said figure has a visibly movable feature, and including means responsive to said sleeve expansion for moving said fea ture.

8. The jack-in-the-box of claim 7 wherein said spring is a coil spring, and said bellows is arranged inside said spring. 

1. In a jack-in-the-box having a spring-biased figure arranged to pop up from a box, the improvement comprising: a. a bellows extending between said figure and said box; b. said bellows being compressed when said figure is pushed into said box and expanded when said figure pops out of said box; c. an air passageway from inside said bellows to outside said bellows: d. said air passageway including an expandible sleeve expanded by air exhausted from said bellows; and e. an air-operated sounder arranged in said passageway for making a sound when air moves through said passageway.
 2. The jack-in-the-box of claim 1 wherein one end of said sleeve is connected to an opening in said bellows, and said sounder is arranged in the other end of said sleeve.
 3. The jack-in-the-box of claim 1 wherein said figure has a visibly movable feature, and including means responsive to said sleeve expansion for moving said feature.
 4. The jack-in-the-box of claim 1 wherein said spring is a coil spring, and said bellows is arranged inside said spring.
 5. The jack-in-the-box of claim 1 including manually operable means arranged for compressing said bellows to operate said sounder.
 6. The jack-in-the-box of claim 5 wherein said air passageway includes an expandible sleeve expanded by air exhausted from said bellows, one end of said sleeve is connected to an opening in said bellows, and said sounder is arranged in the other end of said sleeve.
 7. The jack-in-the-box of claim 6 wherein said figure has a visibly movable feature, and including means responsive to said sleeve expansion for moving said feature.
 8. The jack-in-the-box of claim 7 wherein said spring is a coil spring, and said bellows is arranged inside said spring. 